Rhode Island § 46-15-21 - Water Resources Management

§ 46-15-21. Reporting requirements.

(a) Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the board shall approve and submit an annual report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate and the secretary of state of its activities during that fiscal year. The report shall provide:

(i) A summary of the board’s meetings including when the board and its committees met, subjects addressed, decisions rendered and meeting minutes; a summary of the board’s actions including a listing of the proposals and plans for public water supply systems received; hearings held, findings, assessments, recommendations, and decisions rendered concerning proposed projects for public water supply systems; water supply studies conducted; consents issued for transport of water to another state; decisions rendered requiring or authorizing a water supplier to provide water to other water supply systems; rules and regulations promulgated; violations and penalties assessed; actions taken to abate nuisances or restrain or prevent violations, and any actions taken to investigate the activities of municipal water departments, special water districts or private water companies; a synopsis of the hearings, complaints, suspensions, or other legal matters related to the authority of the board; a summary of any training courses held pursuant to subdivision 46-15.1-5.2(2); a consolidated financial statement of all funds received and expended by the board including the source of the funds; a listing of the staff and/or consultants employed by the board; and a listing of findings and recommendation derived from board activities.

(ii) The report shall be posted electronically as prescribed in § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this subsection.

(b) Forthwith upon passage of this act, and within ninety (90) days of the end of the fiscal year 2006, the board shall submit to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate an annual work plan for the upcoming fiscal year. Said annual work plan shall list the tasks the board plans on working on over the course of the upcoming fiscal year including a description of how the elements are consistent with and supportive of the systems level plan developed and implemented by the Rhode Island Bays, Rivers, and Watersheds Coordination Team, as prescribed in § 46-31-5.

(c) Within ninety (90) days of the end of the fiscal year 2006, and within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year thereafter, the board shall submit to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the secretary of state an annual performance report for that fiscal year. Said report shall describe and evaluate the successes and shortcomings of the implementation of the annual work plan pertaining to that fiscal year, and shall include a summary of progress made in the following areas: formulation and maintenance of a long range guide plan and implementing program for the development of major water resources and transmission systems, as prescribed in § 46-15-13; promulgation of an emergency plan for water supplies in the event of a water emergency declaration by the governor, as prescribed in § 46-15-14; and actions undertaken for the cooperative development, conservation, and use of state water resources, as prescribed in § 46-15-13. The report shall be posted electronically as prescribed in § 42-20-8.2. The director of the department of administration shall be responsible for the enforcement of the provisions of this subsection.